Reality- Things can't always be perfect :)

Where to begin?  Paul says things were going too good to be true because Monday we received our permits... only to find out they are the wrong permits.  Everyone in the group has gotten B permits.  These are more for long stays (over 1 year), employers like them more, apartments are easier to get, etc. etc.  We, unfortunately, got L pemits which usually only get renewed for a max of 2 or so years... not really long enough for us.  Employers hate these as well as apartment landlords.  So we were not happy.  Paul tried to find help but no one seemed willing to dig deep.  So yesterday we went to Kreisburo (where we registered when we arrived) and they sent us to the Migrationsamt who told us that ETH must have filled out the paperwork wrong (4 months ago).  So we went back to ETH and found a piece that was most likely wrong and today Paul got someone to help fix it.  So now we will see where this leads and hopefully will be corrected soon.  Needless to say, this week started off very rough for me because this permit is the basis of me being able to find a job.  A B permit is my only saving grace right now and I need to know I can tell employers that that is actually what I have.  So I have to succumb to waiting... trying to wait patiently and find something to pass the time.

But we did get our boxes last week!  I love having my boots back for the snow and just hope that we get that apartment so we can start moving in and unloading the boxes.  **Fingers still crossed**

Last weekend we were planning on going out of our canton to hike around some trails but the weather was not ideal so we stayed around.  So on Saturday we went walking around downtown again.  Except this time we stumbled into a huge church where we realized a lot of tourists were!  Our first touristy thing.  :)  You could pay SFr. 4 to go up to the top of the tower but that day it was pointless since it was so dreary.  This church was beautiful and the door to go in had all sorts of biblical scenes carved all over it:

 Afterwards we got lost in the alleys and window shopped and found this: (a burnt match as a barrette)

Before going home, we treated ourselves to a meal we have seen everywhere- a bratwurst and bread.  Not too bad for the price and the bratwurst was more of a white sausage than what Im used to.  I liked it more:

Sunday we went to a bird sanctuary around the river.  Very pretty exotic birds that just stared right back at you:

Then we took the tram to the edge of our canton and picked up some beautiful hiking trails.  This one had a small amount of incline which is perfect for me and it was just warm enough to enjoy the snow.  Beautiful:

Oh, and this was our new find at the grocery this weekend.  Instant cappuccino and McDonalds ketchup- who knew their ketchup was different than Heinz?!  The cappuccinos were the closest thing I could come to hot chocolate and with a square of my chocolate they are pretty good (minus all the foam). :)

So now I'm just waiting... Soon hopefully I will be able to start applying to jobs again.  After a couple meltdowns I am a lot more optimistic and excited to be job searching.  This weekend we will be staying close to Elm, Switzerland on Saturday night for skiing in the Alps Sat and Sun.  As long as I come out alive it should be a really good time- little scared about the huge mountains.  Paul's really excited and I'm really looking forward to getting away and hanging out with people.  Oh, and today was the day our return flight left to go back to Tally... and we're not on it... so I guess we're staying!